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Craftsman push behind. Cheap model, all I can afford right now. Eventually, I'd love to get a lawn tractor, a John Deere. My wife say's that's never going to happen. Last night, I saw a commercial for Honda's new "twin blade" technology, and it looked pretty cool. My dream is to eventually get the one that mows the lawn itself! Or a goat!

FULL STORY: http://www.lohud.com/article/20090421/NEWS02/904210404

My hometown PD's traffic enforcement motorcycle. Round Rock, TX (Williamson County) Police Department 2008 BMW Police Package As with all Round Rock PD patrol units, it has the officer's name on it, and it's a take home.

And the official JOE PINTO photo: (Photo by and reposted with permission from Joe Pinto. Photo © Joe Pinto Thanks again Joe!

I know we have a rule about posting off-duty incidents that don't relate to the job, but I think I can make this exception, lol. Kudos to Yonkers Police Officer David MacDonald!! FULL STORY: http://www.lohud.com/article/20090424/NEWS02/904240409

It has a built in speed radar and license plate reader.

FULL STORY: http://www.lohud.com/article/20090425/NEWS/904250392 Thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. John Vasta, as a K-9 is your partner and a member of your family. This is an untimely and unfair tragedy. RIP Boes.

Port Authority's new ESU RMP was shown at FDIC this year. The builder.....ambulance builder Wheeled Coach. Looks like they are trying to get into the Rescue market now-and if anything battle tests something, it's an urban ESU truck!!

Here's a shot from Flickr, reposted under the site's terms: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9899286@N04/3464142336/

It doesn't rain too much, so these units are out frequently. When it does rain, they just alter their schedules.

I don't know if brush fires are an issue up north as frequently as they're popping up around the country. Everyone should keep in mind that Westchester County PD Aviation has a "Bambi-Bucket" for water drops during brush fire They are also cabale of transmitting a video downlink to the WCDES's Mobile Command Center, and other command centers including a portable breifcase, so you can get a better look at the area of fire you're dealing with and come up with a plan from the best angle you can get. Two tools that are extremly valuable to an Brush Fire IC. I'm sure Chris192 could elaborate more. Excuse my ignorance, I know what a "Bambi-Bucket" is, but how does it work? With all the wildfires recently, my question I guess it how to they open and close the valve? Is it manual or can it be done from the cockpit? Also, how much water does it hold, and is there a technique as to where to drop the water? (Photos by me)

Here in Austin, we have this AWESOME movie theater chain. Not only do they show the newly released flicks, but they show a bunch of classics, have fun events like quote-alongs, Quentin Tarentio Movie Festivals, Air Guitar Championships, "Master Pancake", in which you watch BAD old movies that are accompanied by a live comedian, often a celebrity. Amongst numerous other cool events- check the link to the site below. The best part- you have a table in front of you and they serve you food from a large menu throughout the movie! And the food is great, too!! Anyways, here's one of the events the recently put on, and of the reason why I LOVE this place and love Austin!: Here's the theaters website: http://www.originalalamo.com/

Very interesting product...seems to be a similar take on Pierce's PUC line. PHOTO: http://www.ferrarafire.com/Apparatus/Pumpers/MVP/MVP.html

This isn't a simple issue in Westchester County. There are so many underlying issues with command structure and hometown rule that affect this siutation. For example, the six incorporated villages within the Town Of Greenburgh (Ardsley, Elmsford, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, Irvington and Tarrytown) have a combined 18 Chiefs vehicles. With all the equipment lugged around by the IC, a vehicle is needed, often a sturdy SUV. In the volunteer system, you don't know which Chief is available and which is not, and sometimes they split up to take different calls. The Ford Escape and other fuel efficient, enviromentally friendly vehicles should be looked at, as well as a duty vehicle rotation. For instance, the one chief who will be around takes the primary IC vehicle for the day, and the other Chiefs who will be out of town can take the Ford Escapes. Take Austin FD, for example: These Chiefs do put in a lot of their own time to running these departments, and I think they do deserve a vehicle because they shouldn't be expected to use their personal vehicle for departmental purposes, for which they can be called on anytime. It raises their insurance rates, and put uneccasary wear and tear on their own vehicle. And last I checked, most volunteer Chiefs are blue collar workers. It shouldn't be abused, however, and the amount of departmental vehicles and the types of vehicles and how they are assigned should be studied to improve for the future. As for the Chief taking the car to work, I'm sure most departments have a limit, and I'm sure if there was an incident large enough that the Chief would respond back. Also, it makes no sense for a Chief to keep having to switch between his department vehicle and POV. Please do not mistake what I said however, I am totally against Chief's using their department cars as "commuter cars".

Ah, I've never seen it from "the other side", lol. Thanks for filling me in!

Just a reminder how things can change in an instant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dgfJQ7ZwoY

Here's a Fort Worth, TX PD Chevrolet Impala, first Impala I've seen in B&W. Fort Worth is also another department that recently went with the B&W scheme after experimenting with a few other designs.

I LOVE that Diamond Reo!! Very unique!

I am LOVING these classic photos! threads!! Keep them coming, Tommy!! I never knew Peekskill had a lime engine, what's the story behind that? Also, the Washington Engine Company building.....I can't reconize where that is/was?

I don't know about different states, but some of the cell phone bans don't apply to texting. Personally, I feel texting while driving is even more danger....it even caused that massive, multifatal rail collision in Los Angeles a little while back. Despite being a fast typer, I can barely text....takes me twenty minutes to scroll through the letters and type a word (I hate that!). I don't understand how someone can do it while driving....safely.

It's expensive, I heard the first one delivered (the one pictured) was around $1 million. However, I think this type of ladder gives you tremendous advantages and manuverability over a conventional tower ladder, especially in tight commerical districts with power lines, etc.

FULL STORY: http://www.lohud.com/article/20090227/NEWS03/902270409

Although I strongly believe that Police coverage in Westchester is very redundant in some places and could benefit from consolidation, I think that many of the Yorktown cops are from Yorktown and know the town well. It's not an easy area to patrol, and I think Yorktown PD does a great job.

I don't understand this. It seems like this has happened to almost every fire apparatus manufacturer in history. ALF had a large market share in the fire apparatus industry, and they offered some great products. It's my opinion that this is driven by the almighty dollar and stockholders. To be succesful in the fire apparatus market, you have to be building firetrucks because you want to, not because you want to make a profit. That's why the larger companies are pushing hard with the stock/program trucks......it lessens engineering and manufacturing costs. I think the future of the fire apparatus industry will produce less custom apparatus and more stock units, much like a car or truck dealer. And then, all the add ons can be installed at the dealer. I hope LTI doesn't die with ALF, LTI is a great aerial product.